What is…
Marathon Couples Therapy
Intensive Marathon Couples Therapy, using the Gottman Method for Relationship Therapy and Emotion Focused Couples Therapy, is an increasingly popular and highly effective way for couples experiencing significant relationship distress, to stabilize their marriage and to begin to look forward towards a new, more satisfying and enriching marriage.
This is a short term, intensive therapy process that is designed to assist couples in moving rapidly through their gridlocked conflict areas. This process will assist couples in de-escalating conflict in order that they can then begin to re-build their marriage.
Whilst this can be a taxing emotional process for the couple, the age old adage of ‘no pain no gain’ truly resonates with this style of therapy. Extended couples therapy sessions are proven to have the benefit of reducing couples distress, resolving specific conflict issues, and increasing a sense of closeness and intimacy, leading to a stronger, more resilient and more satisfying relationship.
Assessment Phase
Prior to Treatment
The Relationship Wellbeing Assessment
The Relationship Wellbeing Assessment is a thorough assessment that ensures your therapist understands your particular circumstances and individual needs. It includes:
4 online questionnaires/assessments to complete at home
A 2 hour feedback and recommendation session with your psychologist
Whilst completing these assessments may feel onerous, the more information you are able to provide your therapist, the more able your therapist will be to tailor a treatment plan for you and your spouse that addresses the specific issues within your marriage.
Marathon Therapy
WHAT TO EXPECT
Two consecutive days of therapy. Your Marathon Therapy will consist of between 6-7 face-face clinical hours with your therapist per day.
The days will be broken down into 3-4 sessions of between 90-120 minutes. Due to the intensity of this process, there will be regular breaks throughout
the day.
WHAT WE’LL COVER
Whilst individual Marathon Therapy Sessions will vary from couple to couple, depending on the extent of their conflict issues, some of the areas you can expect to cover in your Marathon Therapy Session include:
- Conflict Management
- Strengthening Friendship
- Deepening Intimacy
- Building Relationship Resilience
- Building and Maintaining Connection
- Creating Shared Meaning
- Enhancing Passion and Romance
Who is it for?
Who May Benefit
Couples who are experiencing significant
relationship distressCouples who want a condensed and highly focused intensive approach to specific issues.
Couples who want to jump-start longer term couples therapy by commencing with a high intensity assessment, treatment planning and conflict de-escalation and relationship stabilisation.
Couples coming from other national or international locations, outside of the Sutherland Shire in Sydney, Australia.
Who may not be suitable
Couples where there is serious ongoing domestic violence
If one, or both people in the relationship has an active drug or alcohol addiction
One, or both partners have serious untreated mental health issues (schizophrenia, bipolar disorder). This does not include conditions that have been successfully treated in the past.
If there is an undisclosed affair or an ongoing affair that the partner is not willing to cease.
If either partner is currently experiencing suicidal, homicidal or serious self-harming thoughts.
Please contact us if you are unsure of whether your situation is suitable for this type of therapy. If you are assessed as unsuitable, we can recommend more appropriate treatments and/or referral for you to gain the assistance you need.
Locations
Marathon Therapy sessions will be conducted at our boutique Couples Retreat Apartment, located in one of Sydney's most famous Heritage listed landmarks, the Finger Wharf at Woolloomooloo.
Alternatively, some Marathon Therapy sessions may be conducted at the combined premises of Motivating Marriages Psychology/Motivating Minds Psychological Practice, in Engadine.
On the occasion where these locations are unavailable, Motivating Marriages Psychology will make arrangements for the Marathon Therapy sessions to be held at a suitable off site premises.
When making your booking, our friendly staff will advise you of our location availabilities for your selected dates, and they will assist you with finding the most appropriate location and/or accommodation package for your needs.
For couples from out of state or residing internationally, please contact us via email to discuss therapist fly in options should travelling be an issue for you.
Our Recommendations
make the most of it
In order to make the most out of your Marathon Therapy experience we encourage all couples to truly carve out this time to work on their relationship.
With this commitment to rebuilding your relationship in mind, we recommend, where possible:
Arrange for overnight child minding
Stay overnight at our boutique Couple Retreat Apartment, in Woolloomooloo.
Arrange a date night, including dinner.
FOLLOW UP
When booking your couples therapy package, 3 follow up appointments are scheduled 3-4 weeks apart. Thereafter it is likely that you may benefit from monthly follow up sessions until such time that you both feel confident to be able to effectively implement your new relationship skills. Follow up sessions are conducted face to face or online.
Fees and Cancellation
Cost: $4500*
Deposit to be paid when booking your Couples Therapy Package
Marathon Therapy includes:
Two consecutive intensive treatment days of 6-7 hours duration per day
Client resource pack and toolkit
Optional Accommodation: $350 if you choose to stay overnight at our boutique Couples Retreat Apartment.
*Payment Plan Available
Cancelation Policy: Marathon
Due to the significant amount of time your therapist will need to allocate for your Marathon session there is a 3 week cancellation policy in place.
If you cancel your Marathon more then 3 weeks prior, you will be refunded the full amount you have paid to date less $50 admin fee.
If you cancel your booking within the 3 week period, your payment is not refundable.
Please note, if you cancel your couples therapy package prior to your Relationship Wellbeing Assessment, the RWA cancelation policy applies.
Applications and Bookings
Applications for Marathon Therapy are currently open. Please complete our online application form. It is necessary that both partners are aware of, consent to, and/or contribute to the completion of the initial application form.
Once received, all applications will be reviewed by Adrian and Kerrie and our administration team will contact you to advise of your suitability, and where suitable, to book your marathon session, and to commence your pre-marathon assessment.